Key Facts
- Word: 레전드 (rejendeu), noun, loanword from English
- Register: informal; for something extraordinary or famously memorable
- Senses: legend, legendary (great)
Legend in Korean: What Does 레전드 Mean?
레전드 is borrowed from English and used as praise. Fans call a great singer 레전드, and an unforgettable match, scene or stage can be 레전드 too. It works as a noun, so it is often followed by 예요 or 였어요, and it also sits before another noun like an adjective, as in 레전드 무대. The tone is casual and enthusiastic. For a traditional legend or myth Koreans use a different word, 전설, so keep the two apart.
How Do You Pronounce 레전드?
Say re-jeon-deu in three syllables. The ㅈ in 전 sounds softer than English "j" between vowels, and the ㅓ is unrounded. The last syllable is 드 plus ㅡ, so the lips stay flat and relaxed: do not round them into "doo".
Example Sentences with 레전드
그 가수는 진짜 레전드예요.
geu gasuneun jinjja rejendeuyeyo
That singer is truly a legend.
진짜 means "really" and strengthens the praise. 레전드예요 ends in 예요 because 드 ends in a vowel.
어제 경기는 레전드였어요.
eoje gyeonggineun rejendeuyeosseoyo
Yesterday's match was legendary.
였어요 is the past copula ("was") after a vowel. Here 레전드 is a quality, so the sentence reports that the match was unforgettable.
이 장면은 레전드예요.
i jangmyeoneun rejendeuyeyo
This scene is legendary.
장면 is a scene. This is the kind of comment people leave about a clip they love.
Common Phrases and Collocations
In practice 레전드 is paired with performance nouns.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 레전드 무대 | legendary stage |
| 레전드 가수 | legend singer |
| 레전드 경기 | legendary match |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners reach for 레전드 when they mean an old story.
Wrong: ✗ Calling a folk tale or myth 레전드
Correct: ✓ 전설 for a traditional legend
레전드 praises something great, while 전설 is the traditional tale. Use 전설 for a folk legend and 레전드 for the new, enthusiastic sense.
레전드 Compared with Similar Words
Two other words sit close by in meaning, and each has its own job.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 전설 | legend (traditional tale) | The standard word for a handed-down legend. |
| 대박 | wow / awesome | A reaction word; 레전드 names the thing that deserves the praise. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
레전드 is a direct borrowing of the English "legend", spelled in Hangul with the sounds Korean uses for it. It is written as one word in Korean and is not related to the Sino-Korean word 전설.
Watching an Old Concert Clip
Two friends are watching a singer’s concert video together. They use polite endings because they are still getting to know each other.
Mina
이 무대 봤어요?
I mudae bwasseoyo?
Have you seen this performance?
Alex
네. 이 가수는 정말 레전드예요.
Ne. I gasuneun jeongmal rejendeuyeyo.
Yes. This singer is a real legend.
Mina
맞아요. 다시 봐도 좋아요.
Majayo. Dasi bwado joayo.
I agree. It’s good even when you watch it again.
무대 literally means “stage”, but in this conversation it means the performance on that stage. The friends share an enthusiastic judgment about the singer. The 요 endings make their exchange polite; they do not turn 레전드 into formal vocabulary.
Where Will You See 레전드?
레전드 appears in video titles, fan comments, sports discussions and entertainment talk. A clip titled 레전드 무대 promises a performance worth remembering. It may be an older performance that fans keep revisiting, so the word does not simply mean “new” or “popular right now”.
The same label can focus on different things. 레전드 가수 praises the person’s standing or career. 레전드 경기 praises one particular match. 레전드 무대 praises a performance, even when the performer is still early in their career. Look at the following noun to see what receives the praise.
In comments, 레전드 may stand alone as a complete reaction. A full sentence supplies the same judgment with 예요. In an essay about a traditional story, however, 전설 is the useful starting word. 레전드 would shift the tone toward contemporary fan language.
Reading the Praise in Context
The literal English borrowing is “legend”, but translating every occurrence as “a legend” can sound odd. For a scene or a match, “legendary” or “unforgettable” often fits the English sentence better. For a singer, “a legend” works naturally. The Korean noun stays the same while the English wording changes.
레전드 is also an exaggerated label. Among friends, calling a performance 레전드 expresses excitement; it does not prove that everyone agrees about its historical importance. A fan’s comment and a factual career summary serve different purposes. In neutral writing, describe the achievement itself rather than relying on the praise word alone.
Watch the ending after 드. 레전드예요 describes a present judgment, while 레전드였어요 looks back at an event. The past ending in the match example refers to yesterday’s game; it does not suggest that the game has stopped being memorable.
Words around a Memorable Performance
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 무대 | stage; performance | In a fan comment, this often means the act performed. |
| 장면 | scene | Picks out one moment within a film, show or match. |
| 명장면 | famous or memorable scene | Useful for a highlight people keep sharing. |
| 전설 | legend | Use for a handed-down tale; it can also describe a legendary figure. |
The internet slang lesson puts this kind of praise beside other short reactions. Compare the reaction 대박 with 레전드: the first can be a surprised “wow”, while the second labels the person or event as memorable.
Quick Self-Test
- In 레전드 무대, does 무대 refer only to the physical platform?
- Which word is the usual choice for a traditional legend?
- Does adding 예요 make 레전드 suitable for every formal document?
Show answers
- No. It can mean the performance on the stage.
- 전설.
- No. The ending is polite, but the vocabulary remains informal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is legend in Korean?
The slang is 레전드 (rejendeu); a traditional legend is 전설.
Does 레전드 mean legendary?
Yes. It can describe a person, a performance or a moment as legendary.
How do I say "That is legendary"?
Say 레전드예요, or 이 장면은 레전드예요 for a particular scene.
Is 레전드 casual?
It is informal and enthusiastic, so it fits friends and fan talk more than formal writing.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean internet slang includes 레전드 among its everyday slang.
- Index: browse Korean words A to Z for more words like legend.
- Practice: add 레전드 to your vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next word: ㅋㅋ. The next slang item on this list is ㅋㅋ, lol.
- Compare: 대박 is the reaction word.